Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          4 3 867 819  0.132  3.621   11  0.105   11  0.082    4  0.189   11 0.5234    1  4.053    1  0.527   20 -0.150 P
RAPTORS       4 4 964 944  0.055  4.003   16  0.007   16  0.010   13  0.072   16 0.5016    3  4.036    2  0.320   21 -0.176 P
NUGGETS       4 2 750 683  0.074  2.803    8  0.135    9  0.120    3  0.270    5 0.5320   15  3.995    3  0.305    6  0.235 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 3 842 823  0.138  3.761   15  0.061   12  0.081   16  0.057   10 0.5261    4  4.034    4  0.292   22 -0.179 P
ROCKETS       4 2 749 673  0.160  2.921    6  0.140    6  0.126    2  0.281    7 0.5285   17  3.988    5  0.277    4  0.285 P
76ERS         5 2 865 822 -0.119  2.947    7  0.138    7  0.120   12  0.080   13 0.5202    7  4.026    6  0.276   19 -0.116 P
BUCKS         5 3 959 953 -0.019  3.797   10  0.124   10  0.103   17  0.020   12 0.5207    6  4.031    7  0.241   24 -0.201 P
BULLS         6 1 843 809  0.018  3.368    2  0.247    2  0.259    9  0.095    2 0.5746   10  4.012    8  0.218   15 -0.027 P
LAKERS        6 2 958 933  0.142  4.267    3  0.232    3  0.242    5  0.137    3 0.5648   14  4.004    9  0.214   12  0.059 P
KINGS         2 5 814 847  0.255  4.176   20 -0.092   21 -0.084   18 -0.013   18 0.4893    8  4.021   10  0.155   23 -0.180 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HAWKS         4 4 933 939  0.027  3.996   17 -0.016   17  0.007   19 -0.018   17 0.4996   13  4.005   11  0.065   18 -0.102 P
HORNETS       3 5 963 963 -0.286  3.136   26 -0.205   26 -0.200   26 -0.173   26 0.4390    5  4.032   12  0.056   28 -0.401 P
SUNS          3 5 935 962 -0.027  3.888   24 -0.134   23 -0.107   22 -0.081   22 0.4685   11  4.012   13  0.042   25 -0.203 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 818 809  0.033  3.423   14  0.073   15  0.071   11  0.080   15 0.5159   20  3.974   14  0.002    9  0.158 P
PISTONS       5 2 811 787  0.064  3.517    4  0.172    4  0.170   15  0.059    4 0.5415   19  3.978   15  0.001   10  0.117 P
KNICKS        4 3 814 795  0.082  3.534   12  0.086   13  0.076    8  0.101    9 0.5283   22  3.965   16 -0.020    8  0.222 P
WARRIORS      5 3 941 917  0.048  3.916    9  0.134    8  0.120    7  0.119    8 0.5285   24  3.958   17 -0.037    5  0.275 P
GRIZZLIES     3 5 924 963 -0.094  3.744   23 -0.129   24 -0.116   24 -0.144   24 0.4663   12  4.005   18 -0.058   26 -0.230 P
THUNDER       8 0 981 875 -0.097  3.164    1  0.344    1  0.379    1  0.331    1 0.5844   28  3.909   19 -0.076    1  0.737 P
MAGIC         3 5 930 941  0.009  3.945   22 -0.116   22 -0.097   20 -0.036   21 0.4792   18  3.979   20 -0.089   14  0.017 P
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     4 3 799 797  0.040  3.462   13  0.076   14  0.075   14  0.059   14 0.5186   25  3.957   21 -0.107    7  0.225 P
NETS          0 7 783 893 -0.027  3.666   30 -0.344   30 -0.366   29 -0.387   30 0.3938    2  4.037   22 -0.133   30 -0.642 P
JAZZ          3 4 809 830 -0.071  3.282   21 -0.094   20 -0.071   23 -0.140   23 0.4669   21  3.972   23 -0.226   17 -0.055 P
CLIPPERS      3 4 782 806 -0.067  3.297   18 -0.064   18 -0.055   21 -0.080   20 0.4819   26  3.951   24 -0.273   11  0.113 P
WIZARDS       1 6 788 889 -0.096  3.558   29 -0.281   29 -0.285   30 -0.421   29 0.4219    9  4.015   25 -0.282   29 -0.560 P
PACERS        1 6 790 844 -0.034  3.425   28 -0.257   28 -0.258   25 -0.169   27 0.4307   23  3.962   26 -0.307   16 -0.031 P
CELTICS       3 5 884 877  0.092  4.077   19 -0.069   19 -0.061    6  0.120   19 0.4849   30  3.904   27 -0.311    2  0.552 P
SPURS         5 1 709 649 -0.196  2.310    5  0.163    5  0.154   10  0.095    6 0.5310   29  3.908   28 -0.314    3  0.504 P
PELICANS      1 6 762 867  0.011  3.828   27 -0.245   27 -0.241   28 -0.348   28 0.4274   16  3.991   29 -0.338   27 -0.357 P
MAVERICKS     2 5 751 809 -0.133  3.338   25 -0.189   25 -0.182   27 -0.208   25 0.4484   27  3.938   30 -0.467   13  0.051 P

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        6 2 958 933  0.142  4.267    3  0.232    3  0.242    5  0.137    3 0.5648   14  4.004    9  0.214   12  0.059 P
KINGS         2 5 814 847  0.255  4.176   20 -0.092   21 -0.084   18 -0.013   18 0.4893    8  4.021   10  0.155   23 -0.180 P
SUNS          3 5 935 962 -0.027  3.888   24 -0.134   23 -0.107   22 -0.081   22 0.4685   11  4.012   13  0.042   25 -0.203 P
WARRIORS      5 3 941 917  0.048  3.916    9  0.134    8  0.120    7  0.119    8 0.5285   24  3.958   17 -0.037    5  0.275 P
CLIPPERS      3 4 782 806 -0.067  3.297   18 -0.064   18 -0.055   21 -0.080   20 0.4819   26  3.951   24 -0.273   11  0.113 P

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       4 2 750 683  0.074  2.803    8  0.135    9  0.120    3  0.270    5 0.5320   15  3.995    3  0.305    6  0.235 P
TRAIL BLAZERS 4 3 842 823  0.138  3.761   15  0.061   12  0.081   16  0.057   10 0.5261    4  4.034    4  0.292   22 -0.179 P
TIMBERWOLVES  4 3 818 809  0.033  3.423   14  0.073   15  0.071   11  0.080   15 0.5159   20  3.974   14  0.002    9  0.158 P
THUNDER       8 0 981 875 -0.097  3.164    1  0.344    1  0.379    1  0.331    1 0.5844   28  3.909   19 -0.076    1  0.737 P
JAZZ          3 4 809 830 -0.071  3.282   21 -0.094   20 -0.071   23 -0.140   23 0.4669   21  3.972   23 -0.226   17 -0.055 P

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
ROCKETS       4 2 749 673  0.160  2.921    6  0.140    6  0.126    2  0.281    7 0.5285   17  3.988    5  0.277    4  0.285 P
GRIZZLIES     3 5 924 963 -0.094  3.744   23 -0.129   24 -0.116   24 -0.144   24 0.4663   12  4.005   18 -0.058   26 -0.230 P
SPURS         5 1 709 649 -0.196  2.310    5  0.163    5  0.154   10  0.095    6 0.5310   29  3.908   28 -0.314    3  0.504 P
PELICANS      1 6 762 867  0.011  3.828   27 -0.245   27 -0.241   28 -0.348   28 0.4274   16  3.991   29 -0.338   27 -0.357 P
MAVERICKS     2 5 751 809 -0.133  3.338   25 -0.189   25 -0.182   27 -0.208   25 0.4484   27  3.938   30 -0.467   13  0.051 P

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
BUCKS         5 3 959 953 -0.019  3.797   10  0.124   10  0.103   17  0.020   12 0.5207    6  4.031    7  0.241   24 -0.201 P
BULLS         6 1 843 809  0.018  3.368    2  0.247    2  0.259    9  0.095    2 0.5746   10  4.012    8  0.218   15 -0.027 P
PISTONS       5 2 811 787  0.064  3.517    4  0.172    4  0.170   15  0.059    4 0.5415   19  3.978   15  0.001   10  0.117 P
CAVALIERS     4 3 799 797  0.040  3.462   13  0.076   14  0.075   14  0.059   14 0.5186   25  3.957   21 -0.107    7  0.225 P
PACERS        1 6 790 844 -0.034  3.425   28 -0.257   28 -0.258   25 -0.169   27 0.4307   23  3.962   26 -0.307   16 -0.031 P

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          4 3 867 819  0.132  3.621   11  0.105   11  0.082    4  0.189   11 0.5234    1  4.053    1  0.527   20 -0.150 P
HAWKS         4 4 933 939  0.027  3.996   17 -0.016   17  0.007   19 -0.018   17 0.4996   13  4.005   11  0.065   18 -0.102 P
HORNETS       3 5 963 963 -0.286  3.136   26 -0.205   26 -0.200   26 -0.173   26 0.4390    5  4.032   12  0.056   28 -0.401 P
MAGIC         3 5 930 941  0.009  3.945   22 -0.116   22 -0.097   20 -0.036   21 0.4792   18  3.979   20 -0.089   14  0.017 P
WIZARDS       1 6 788 889 -0.096  3.558   29 -0.281   29 -0.285   30 -0.421   29 0.4219    9  4.015   25 -0.282   29 -0.560 P

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                          STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM          W L  PF  PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
RAPTORS       4 4 964 944  0.055  4.003   16  0.007   16  0.010   13  0.072   16 0.5016    3  4.036    2  0.320   21 -0.176 P
76ERS         5 2 865 822 -0.119  2.947    7  0.138    7  0.120   12  0.080   13 0.5202    7  4.026    6  0.276   19 -0.116 P
KNICKS        4 3 814 795  0.082  3.534   12  0.086   13  0.076    8  0.101    9 0.5283   22  3.965   16 -0.020    8  0.222 P
NETS          0 7 783 893 -0.027  3.666   30 -0.344   30 -0.366   29 -0.387   30 0.3938    2  4.037   22 -0.133   30 -0.642 P
CELTICS       3 5 884 877  0.092  4.077   19 -0.069   19 -0.061    6  0.120   19 0.4849   30  3.904   27 -0.311    2  0.552 P

DIVISION            W  L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 23 12 0.657    1  0.278
CENTRAL DIVISION   21 15 0.583    2  0.038
PACIFIC DIVISION   19 19 0.500    3  0.031
ATLANTIC DIVISION  16 21 0.432    4  0.010
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 15 19 0.441    5 -0.139
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 15 23 0.395    6 -0.182

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.232 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.025 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Wed Nov  5 05:30:11 2025
games through: Tue Nov  4 2025

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